Boys watching TV in the 1950s

Historical film TV and radio

From binge-worthy period dramas to award-winning documentaries, find out why historical movies, TV and radio programs are more popular than ever, with this series of articles, podcasts and video

Rupert Everett as Oscar Wilde in 'The Happy Prince'. "The image of Wilde in Paris at the end of the 19th century is full of fantasy and sadness, tragedy and humour," says Everett. (Lionsgate)

The Happy Prince: Rupert Everett on Oscar Wilde's life in exile. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Winston Graham’s central relationship – between the gentlemanly Ross Poldark and Demelza Carne, an illiterate young kitchen maid – is highly unusual. But was there a real ‘Ross and Demelza’ in history? (Photo by Mammoth Screen/BBC)

Poldark series 3 recap – what happened and what is the real history behind the hit TV series?

The Vietnam War on film. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The real history behind ‘The Crown’ with Robert Lacey. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The history of today. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Charlie Chaplin, in a still from his 1936 film 'Modern Times’. (Photo by American Stock/Getty Images)

My history hero: Charlie Chaplin. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The Sultanahmet district in Istanbul, Turkey, which is classified as World Heritage by UNESCO. (Photo by DOZIER Marc via Getty Images)

A new civilisation rises. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Radio Times cover, 1931. (Photo by Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo)

Radio nation

Vikings on screen. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

‘Vikings’ creator Michael Hirst on the real history behind the hit drama. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

BBC Arabic at 80. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Journey’s End: behind the scenes of the new First World War film. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

What’s the real history behind ‘Britannia’?

The real history behind Victoria series two

'Darkest Hour': an interview with director Joe Wright. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Q&A: When were the first film trailers shown?

The real history behind ‘The White Princess’

In ‘Venus Uncovered’ on BBC Four, Wednesday 15 November at 9pm, Bettany Hughes investigates the mythological figure of Venus. (© Sandstone Global/Image by Tim Knight)

Bettany Hughes on the symbol of Venus

The Prince of Wales loading a rifle in the Grenadiers, First World War, 1914. (Photo by The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images)

Edward VIII: How war scarred the playboy prince. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Winston Graham's Poldark novels remind us of aspects of the past that might otherwise remain in the shadows, says Hannah Greig. (Image credit: Mammoth screen/BBC)

The real history behind 'Poldark' series three: episode nine

George Warleggan. (Image credit: BBC/Mammoth Screen/Robert Viglasky)

The real history behind 'Poldark' series three: episode eight

In the recent episode of Poldark, Dwight Enys once more displayed modern medical skill. (Image credit: Mammoth Screen / BBC)

The real history behind 'Poldark' series three: episode seven

'Poldark' character Aunt Agatha (left) draws our attention to the often-ignored figure of the 18th-century spinster, says Hannah Greig. (Image credit: BBC/Mammoth Screen/Robert Viglasky)

The real history behind 'Poldark' series three: episode six

Ross Poldark takes on a dangerous mission to liberate his friend Dwight from Quimper prison in France. Quimper was a real prison, which was "notorious for its terrible conditions", says historian Hannah Greig. (BBC/Mammoth Screen/Robert Viglasky)

The real history behind ‘Poldark’ series three: episode five

George Warleggan begins to gain power as a Justice of the Peace in the third series of 'Poldark'. (Mammoth Screen/BBC)

The real history behind ‘Poldark’ series three: episode four

Ross Poldark travels to Republican France in the latest episode of the BBC drama. France was a 'brutal and dangerous' place to be at the time, says historian Hannah Greig. (BBC/Mammoth Screen)

The real history behind 'Poldark' series three: episode three

Sam and Drake Carne. (Mammoth Screen/BBC)

The real history behind ‘Poldark’ series three: episode two

Churchill on film: the challenges of portraying a Second World War icon. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The real history behind 'Poldark' series three: episode one

'Their Finest' and the British films that inspired the home front during the Second World War. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.